Sheridan VA observes National Disability Employment Awareness Month by helping vets get back to work

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of August of 2022, 4.9 million veterans, or 27% of all veterans, have a service-connected disability.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month is observed each October to commemorate the many contributions of people with disabilities to America’s workplaces and economy.

As part of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the Sheridan VA Health Care System is highlighting the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Vocational Rehabilitation programs, which include Transitional Work and Supported Employment. These programs assist veterans with disabilities get competitive employment in the community, working jobs they choose, while receiving the support they need.

Sheridan VA Health Care System Psychosocial Rehabilitation Supervisor Julie Holewa made an appearance on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse to discuss the programs and how they benefit the region’s veterans. 

The Transitional Work program can help Veterans with barriers to employment gain work experience at the VA through this therapeutic intervention. 

J. Holewa 

The Supported Employment program now has two specialty programs to help Veterans with specific needs achieve competitive employment in the community—one for those with severe and persistent mental illness and one for those who have substance use disorders. 

J. Holewa 

If you are an employer interested in hiring veterans who are looking for employment, please contact any of Sheridan VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation Staff through the contact information below. 

Transitional Work Coordinator: Amanda Bruno MA, CRC, LPC at Amanda.Bruno@va.gov or 307-675-3819.

Supported Employment (severe mental illness program): Lisa Worthington MS, CRC at Lisa.Worthington@va.gov or call 307-675-3874.

Supported Employment (substance use disorder program): Scott Brooke at Scott.Brooke2@va.gov or 307-675-7232.